Washboard.



ilNrtnn States PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. PERMAR, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,957, dated November 4, 1902.

Application liled August 21, 19701.vv Serial No. 72,839. (No model.)

To @ZZ w'wm, t may concern:

Beit known thatl I, lVILLIAM J. PERMAR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, Lucas county, State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Washboards; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth inthe following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to washboards, such' ribs at about the vmid-length of slats which are made of friable material, all Vas more fully described and claimed below, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, whereiny.

Figure l isa perspective View of the face of this washboard complete. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner face of one side rail constructed in its preferred form". Fig. 3 isa side elevation'of.oneend of one slat having studs. Fig. 4 is a detail showing some of the slats in section, two in elevation and constructed like that shown in Fig. 3, and a portion of one side rail in elevation as viewed from its inner side as constructed slightly different from the rail shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing two glass or friable slats which might be employed and a portion of the side rail by which said slats are supported. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary per.v spective detail of the same, one of the slats being continued to show studs at'its ends, as in Fig. 3. i In its general construction this washboard does not differ essentially from those now on the market. Its two side rails R are con'- nected to a top railT by pins, screws, or nailsV N, and these side rails are also connected by a cross-piece O, above which is a solid board, leaving an opening O, constituting the soapboX, as usual. By preference the side rails are also connected near theirlower ends bya bolt B. Between this bolt and the cross-strip' C are located the slats S, which are flattened, lap each other partly, and have their adjacent faces spaced slightly from each other, as best seen in Fig. 4, their upper and lower edges Uand Lbeing preferably rounded and their bodies standing at an angle of about forty-tive degrees to the length of the side rails. f

The sizes, shapes, materials, and proportions of the parts are not essential, though I hereinafter describe several details which are used by preference.

In use the washboard is placed in the tub at an angle of about forty-five degrees, which w-illcause th'eslats to stand in parallel Vertical planes with their edges U uppermost. The clothes are then taken in a wet condition from the water and rubbed over the board in vthe usual manner,.when the rounded upper edges Uwill assist the operator-s knucklesin squeezing the water out of the clothes, vand such soiled water will run through between the slats and fall back into the tub. It is clear that the pressure comes edgewise on the slats, so that they are not bent out of position. lf it be not desired to have this action, the entire Washboard is turned over. The slats will then stand approximately horizontal or can he lnade to incline downward, if desired, by tipping the washboard a little nearer the vertical, and the lower edges L then do the rubbing, but the Water will not pass between the slats. Thus my improved washboard can be used in either way desired by the operator; but experience has taught me that it is highlydesirable to squeeze out the water from the garments as they are rubbed. This water is dirty and soapy, and usually the garment passes from the rubbing operation to another tub wherein rinsing is done.

A few details of construction suggest themselves at this timeV and I have illustrated some of them in therdrawings herewith. By preference the innerfaces of the side rails lare grooved vertically, as at V, for the reception of the ends ofthe slats, and they are provided inthe bottom of the grooves with openings consistingof'deeper obliquegrooves G for further receiving the ends of the slats,

as seen in Fig. 2; or the slats may have ico studs I), Fig. 3, which enter openings consisting of holes I-I, formed along the edges and in the bottom of the groove V in the inner faces of the side rails R, as seen in Fig. 4,

the grooves, holes, or different openings which are employed always conforming with the shape of the ends ot' the slats. The latter by preference have flattened bodies with the edges rounded,so that when one edge becomes worn the slat may be reversed edge for edge. In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown sections of two glass slats S5, which could be used in place of other material; but when I use glass or any friable material I preferably provide transverse ribs rat about the center of their lengths and projecting from their faces to a sufficient extent to contact with each other, so as to prevent the breaking of the slats. Obviously these ribs must he cut away, as at a, so that the clothes and fingers will not come in contact with them.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a washboard, the combination with lthe two side rails having longitudinal grooves in their inner faces and openings in the bottom of said grooves and means for detachably connecting said rails; of aseries of slats whose extremities are removably seated in said openings and Whose bodies are parallel and slightly spaced from each other.

2. In a washboard, the combination with two side rails having longitudinal grooves in their inner faces and openings consisting of holes in the bottoms of said grooves along the edges of the latter, the holes being set in pairs oblique to the length of the rails, and means for detachably connecting the latter; of a series of slats whose bodies are flattened and lap each other partly, and two studs at each end of each Slat entering a pair of said holes so as to hold the slat oblique.

3. In a washboard, friable slats slightly spaced from each other, and transverse ribs projecting from both faces of eachfslat and 4o 

